Aces on Bridge

Dear Mr. Wolff: I have just formed a new bridge partnership, and my partner and I cannot decide whether we should use attitude or count on our leads. What do you think?

— Peter Pondering,

Atlanta, Georgia

Answer: I would say that attitude (high is encouraging) should be your primary focus. It is generally of more use to know whether partner wants a suit to be continued than to know how many cards he has there. In certain positions, count may be more important, but these can be specifically defined in advance.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Say my left-hand opponent opens a weak two spades, passed around to me. How much do I need to call two notrump?

— Balancing Act, Vancouver, B.C.

Answer: The normal standards are loosened a bit in the protective position, but not enough to put you in harm’s way. You can bid two no-trump here with anything from a good 14-count to a bad 18. With anything more, gamble on three no-trump, or double then bid no-trump. Suit bids should still promise close to an opening hand.

Dear Mr. Wolff: After my partner has overcalled at the one-level, should a cue-bid in my left-hand opponent’s suit by me always promise support for partner’s suit?

— Pool Cue, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Answer: It definitely should be so when your right-hand opponent acts, for then you have a takeout double available. When he passes, there is a case for cue-bidding with a strong balanced hand in order to set up a force, but I would advise you to keep things simple and play suit bids as a one-round force, while reserving the cue-bid for strong raises of partner’s suit alone. A jump to two no-trump after your righthand opponent passes should be 13 to 14 or so.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Would you re-open with a double, holding: ♠ J-9-7-5-2, ♥ K-10-4, ♦ K-9-6-2, ♣ Q, after your left-hand opponent’s three-club pre-empt is passed around to you at love all?

— Feeling Lucky, Great Falls, Montana

Answer: I would probably pass. The general focus when bidding over preempts is not to contest the part-score, but to bid game, and it is not likely that our side is making a game here. Thus, it comes down to whether I should allow for partner’s having a penalty pass. I think not, since my hand offers little in the way of defensive value; however, this may vary a little depending on who is to my left.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Do I need to have a guard in my righthand opponent’s suit when overcalling one no-trump? What if he opens a phony club?

— Stop the Bus, Niagara, New York

Answer: I would like to have a stopper in the suit opened — even when my right-hand opponent has promised only two cards in that suit, preferring to start with a double otherwise. However, that is not always practical, especially with three or more cards in my right-hand opponent’s suit and a doubleton in one of the majors. In those situations, I’d tend to bite the bullet and try a no-trump. In this scenario, they often do not lead a phony minor when it would be correct.